Tension returned to the Caucasus. Armenia Y Azerbaijan they took up arms again and accused each other of resuming the conflict. Unlike the last war in 2020, Baku is not attacking the disputed enclave this time, but internationally recognized Armenian territory. Nagorno-Karabakh. a potential problem for Russia, the guarantor of peace South Caucasus may be forced to intervene directly or indirectly in the area.
The first exchange of bullets took place on the Armenian-Azerbaijani front last Monday, and at least 105 martyred soldiers (49 Azeris and 54 Armenians). Armenia officially requested help from moscow and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a military alliance in which Russia is the greatest power. The conflict is unequal between both Transcaucasian countries. Besides having rich natural resources that meet its own needs, Azerbaijan military musclehas support TurkeyWhile Armenia is heavily dependent on Russia, which finds itself struggling in the east of the country, Ukraine.
Yerevan has far fewer resources – based in part on its large diaspora – and on old military equipment. Already in 2020, it suffered a bitter defeat. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. during that war About 5,000 soldiers died., 2,425 of them Armenian. this Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehiclesTurkish manufacture was a real nightmare in the Armenian ranks. For example, Samuel, who fought on the Armenian side, explains: “I lost a leg in a drone attack that killed 17 people.”
on that occasion Moscow did not intervene directly Despite participating in the lottery peace talks. If he did not support Armenia this time, relations between the two countries and Moscow’s role as a guarantor of stability in the South Caucasus could have been damaged. The Armenian diaspora, which has a significant weight in the Eurasian country, could see this with a bad eye if Russia did not intervene in this new Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
New facade in Georgia
Meanwhile, there is talk of opening a new front against Russia in Tbilisi. This was presented by the head of the Georgian Dream government party, Giorgi Kobakhidze. Saying that the authorities will “do what the people say”, Kobakhidze said, “Let the people say whether they want to open a second front against Russia in Georgia.” Tbilisi had fought a short but painful war against its northern neighbor in 2008, when Moscow came to support its allies. South Ossetia Y abkhazia.
Both regions are States that are not recognized by the international community, which considers them a legitimate part of Georgia. This is one of many “frozen conflicts” post-Soviet space, for example Transnistria (Moldova) and Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan).
In the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, the Georgian people mostly support Kiev because of its history with Russia. Citizens of Georgia protested many times to question their rulers Tougher sanctions on Moscowas well as openly showing their support on the streets with flags and even putting the Ukrainian anthem on the country’s radios.